forage variety update for wisconsin · wisconsin, especially where snow cover is not dependable,...
TRANSCRIPT
A1525
Dan Undersander, Mike Bertram, Jason Cavadini, Arin Crooks, Bill Meyer, Heathcliff Riday and Anna Teeter
Forage variety update for Wisconsin
2015 trial resultsLegumes alfalfa
birdsfoot trefoil
red clover
Grasses meadow bromegrass
meadow fescue
orchardgrass
reed canarygrass
ryegrass
smooth bromegrass
tall fescue
timothy
ContentsIntroduction 12015 in review 1
Figure 1 Variety trial test sites 1Figure 2. Comparison of 2015 alfalfa yields with historic averages, Arlington and Marshfield, WI 2Figure 3. Comparison of 2015 grass yields with historic averages, Arlington, WI 2
Legumes 3Alfalfa 3
Table 1. Soil types and number of cuts of alfalfa variety trial sites 3Table 2. Yield as a percent of check averages and fall dormancy of alfalfa varieties (established stands) 4Table 3. Yield in seeding year as a percent of check averages and fall dormancy of alfalfa varieties 5Table 4. Disease and PLH resistance and marketers of alfalfa varieties 6
Birdsfoot trefoil 7Red clover 7
Table 5 Birdsfoot trefoil yields, expressed as a percent of Norcen 7Table 6 Red clover yields, expressed as a percent of check variety 8
Grasses 9Meadow bromegrass 9Meadow fescue 9Orchardgrass 10
Figure 4. Winter-hardy vs winter-killed orchardgrass varieties 10Reed canarygrass 10Ryegrass 10Smooth bromegrass 11Tall fescue 11Timothy 12Selecting grass varieties 12
Figure 5. Seasonal distribution of orchardgrass varieties 12Table 7. Yield of festulolium, bromegrass, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, timothy, westerwoldicums, and annual ryegrass varieties expressed as a percent of the check variety 13
Pasture seeding mixtures 15Table 8. Seeding rates into existing sod 15Table 9. Seeding rates for pasture seeding mixtures (lb/acre) 15Table 10. Planting rate and date for forages in Wisconsin 16
Seed marketers 17
This publication and other forage information can be found on the forage website at www.uwex.edu/ces/forage
To print or order other publications from the University of Wisconsin-Extension, visit learningstore.uwex.edu
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Wisconsin’s more than four million acres of hay and haylage contribute greatly to the state’s
economy and to environmental quality Because 85% of this production is fed to livestock on farms, most farmers receive returns from these forages by selling livestock and livestock products, rather than by selling the forage itself However, hay is also gaining importance as a cash crop for dairies and the horse industry
Farmers generally minimize feed costs by producing high yields of high-quality forage Some farmers strive for long stand life, but many take advantage of short rotations with forage to gain rotational effects and nitrogen credits This, in turn, increases the yield of the following corn crop for either grain or silage All farmers benefit from planting newer, improved varieties that will return the seed cost many times in increased yield and stand life
For hay and silage/haylage crops, legumes are preferred in most situations because they offer a high yield of high-quality forage However, grass fields may be desired where manure is applied frequently Interest has continued in planting alfalfa/grass mixtures Farmers should choose grass varieties carefully to match with alfalfa Most farmers are choosing tall fescue, meadow fescue, or orchardgrass varieties The grass variety of the selected species needs to be high-yielding, late-maturing, winter-hardy, and rust-resistant
While grasses provide the base for most pastures, interseeded legumes increase the forage quality of pastures, reduce nitrogen fertilization needs, and provide more growth during a grass’ summer slump
This publication summarizes the performance of forage varieties in Wisconsin The performance data was collected from trials conducted by the University of Wisconsin at UW Agricultural Research
Stations and in farmers’ fields More detailed and historic information is available on the UW forages website at www uwex edu/ces/forage, where you can also select any two alfalfa varieties and see how they compared in any or all regions of the Midwest (select “Compare Alfalfa Varieties”)
2015 in reviewGrowing conditionsWinter survival was generally good across the state, although many fields damaged by the previous two winters were not replaced A private survey across central Wisconsin and Minnesota showed that farmers thought 30% of stands needed replacement following the winter-kill of 2012–2013, while advisors and consultants estimated damage at 70% These percentages reveal that many farmers fail to recognize the impact of thin stands on alfalfa yield While high hay prices resulted in above average seeding of alfalfa, many thinning stands still require replacement from the winter-kill of 2013
Early spring temperatures were cool across the state, which decreased alfalfa leaf growth and increased leaf diseases These two factors resulted in some alfalfa yielding below average fiber digestibility from increased stem percentage Some farmers (especially in eastern Wisconsin) found they had trouble getting high-quality forage when not using a fungicide on first cutting
The majority of the state had adequate moisture during most of the growing season However, unlike the eastern U S , there were good periods for hay making if farmers were prepared and used combinations of wide swath and good conditioning to dry hay and haylage rapidly
Figure 1. Variety trial test sites
Marshfield
Arlington
Lancaster
Introduction
All farmers benefit
from planting newer,
improved varieties that
will return the seed cost
many times in increased
yield and stand life.
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F O R A G E V A R I E T Y U P D A T E F O R W I S C O N S I N
Forage yieldsForage yields were overall very good for alfalfa (see figures 2 and 3), ranging from a low of 15% to as much as 60% above historic averages Forage inventories were generally rebuilt this past summer In fact, one common question was: “What would happen if the September 1 harvest was not taken?” The answer is nothing, since alfalfa stands well and is not affected by leaving residue in the field However, if significant grasses are left in the stand, the resulting residue could cause matting, snow mold and stand loss
Pastures were slow to green up due to cool spring temperatures However, growth was generally good despite cooler temperatures early in the season Above average growth occurred late in the season which benefited many graziers and allowed for increased grazing of stockpiled forage This year an additional 40 lb nitrogen/acre and 20–25 lb sulfur/acre resulted in significant additional forage for fall grazing
Production trends and demandHay prices remained stable during the growing season, falling only slightly due to high production in Wisconsin This likely occurred from wet conditions (especially in the eastern U S ) which made harvesting difficult Nationally, hay production was good, but rain in many regions resulted in below average forage quality
Current hay prices are available at http://fyi uwex edu/forage/ Note that round bales sell for $35–$65 per ton less than 3’x3’ square bales depending on the quality If selling hay is the objective, it may be worthwhile to hire a custom harvester to bale the hay
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Arlington
Orchardgrass Tall fescue
historic yield
2015 yield
Figure 3. Comparison of 2015 grass yields with historic averages, Arlington, Wisconsin
Current hay prices are available at http://fyi.uwex.edu/forage/h-m-r/.
Figure 2. Comparison of 2015 alfalfa yields with historic averages in Arlington, Lancaster and Marshfield, Wisconsin
historic yield
2015 yield
1 2 3 4cutting number
tons
/acr
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Arlington
historic yield
2015 yield
1 2 3 4cutting number
tons
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Lancaster
historic yield
2015 yield
1 2 3 4cutting number
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Marsh�eld
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This publication reports varietal characteristics and performance data collected from trials conducted in
Wisconsin and gives criteria for selecting varieties The University of Wisconsin forage variety testing program tests alfalfa at many sites representing the major soil types and climatic conditions of the state (see table 1) Red clovers are tested at Prairie Du Sac Grasses are tested at Arlington and Spooner All plots are established in conventionally prepared seedbeds with a post-emergent herbicide All seed is inoculated, and alfalfa is treated with metalaxyl (Apron) fungicide prior to planting
All sites are managed for maximum yield Fields have a soil pH of 6 8 or higher and are fertilized according to UW soil tests Weeds and insects are controlled as necessary Alfalfa is harvested at the mid- to late-bud stage and red clover and birdsfoot trefoil are harvested at 25–50% bloom All yields are reported on a dry matter basis
AlfalfaAlfalfa and alfalfa-grass mixtures are grown for hay or silage on more than three million acres in Wisconsin Alfalfa is the foundation of successful feeding programs for Wisconsin’s dairy cattle, replacement heifers, beef cattle, sheep, and horses For more information on growing alfalfa, see Extension publication Alfalfa Management Guide (A4075)
Selecting alfalfa varietiesExperience emphasizes the need to select high-yielding alfalfa varieties with adequate winter survival and disease resistance Use the following steps to help select the best varieties for your location
1. Select a group of top-yielding varieties using the average yield (shaded column of table 2) Yield is the major factor in determining profitability of an alfalfa stand Look for varieties with high average yields across sites and years (the number of site-years is in brackets) All varieties tend to yield most the year after seeding Therefore, compare only varieties with more than three site-years to ensure that data from more than the first year is included in the mean Higher site-year averages indicate greater confidence This is important because of variations in weather from one year to the next, in soil type, etc Thus, a variety with yield stability over a broad range of conditions will most likely perform well, regardless of soil type and growing condition differences
2. Check the yield at the variety trial site most like your conditions to make sure that the variety also did well under conditions most like those on your farm
3. Compare disease resistance and stand persistence. Stand persistence is an estimate of the stand remaining after two or more winters These ratings consider all factors relating to stand survival and are the best estimates of stand life Persistence ratings may not be available for varieties that are too new to have been grown in the trials for at least two years Frequently, the most persistent varieties are not the highest yielding, and tradeoffs must be made
Aphanomyces occurred across the Midwest, even where resistant varieties had been planted This likely indicates infection by aphanomyces race 2–resistant varieties
4. Check the selected varieties for winter survival (table 4) A number of alfalfa varieties are being released with improved winter survival These varieties will survive more difficult winters and tolerate October harvest with less yield reduction the following spring
Your location in the state plays an important role in the needed winter survival rating Generally, in central Wisconsin, especially where snow cover is not dependable, varieties with very good to superior winter survival should be grown In northern Wisconsin, which has better snow cover, and in southern Wisconsin, varieties with adequate to good winter survival may be grown
More intensive cutting schedules may increase the need for varieties with more winter survival If you harvest in the fall, we strongly suggest using alfalfa varieties with superior winter survival
Where direct measurements of winter survival are lacking, fall dormancy may be used to estimate winter survival Lower fall dormancy numbers generally indicate greater winter survival However, some varieties may have better winter survival than the fall dormancy would indicate
5. Compare forage quality of varieties. Use milk per acre to select the variety that best combines traits of high yield and high forage quality Also, consider planting some fields to high-quality varieties and some to standard varieties to spread the harvest window in the spring The standard varieties will be ready to harvest first and the high-quality varieties may be harvested later
Table 1. Soil types and number of cuts of alfalfa variety trial sites
Site Soil type Number of cuts Date of last cut
Arlington Plano silt loam 4 9/4/15
Lancaster Sattre loam 4 8/24/15
Marshfield Withee silt loam 3 8/31/15
Legumes
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F O R A G E V A R I E T Y U P D A T E F O R W I S C O N S I N
BlendsMany companies sell blends at a reduced price from named varieties A blend is a mixture of two or more varieties Blends may do as well as the best varieties or very poorly Since these blends may have been derived in various ways, their performance depends on the skill and integrity of the seed company Disease resistance, winter survival, and other character istics may change within a blend from lot to lot or year to year
Using certified seed of adapted, high-yielding varieties best assures trueness to name
Table 2. Yield as a percent of check averages and fall dormancy of alfalfa varieties (established stands)
Variety FDa
Average ——Arlington—— LAN MAR
[site-years]b ‘12c ‘13 ‘14 14 13 ‘14
Conventional weed management
5312 3 105 [144} 91 106 102
55H94 5 110 [3} 98
55Q27 5 110 [7} 86 128* 114* 109* 108*
55V50 5 113 [16} 107 119* 119* 101 107* 114*
6472A 4 105 [2} 108*
BLUE JAY 3 107 [2} 105
DG 4210 4 105 [5} 116* 106*
FORAGEGOLD 4 91 [2} 74
FSG 403LR 4 110 [4} 109 104
FSG 424 4 106 [4} 101 109*
HYBRIFORCE-3400** 4 126 [13} 140*
HYBRIFORCE-3400QR** 4 124 [14} 118 114
L-455HD 4 108 [4} 111 110*
LANCER 4 94 [3] 77
LEGENDAIRY XHD 3 107 [4] 115* 102
MAGNITUDE 4 123 [2] 128*
MALLARD 5 5 115 [2] 117*
MARINER IV 4 111 [4] 105 110 111*
Nuton 4 110 [3] 110 115* 105*
ONEIDA VR 3 102 [223] 80 86 96
PGI 557 5 105 [1] 105
PGI 212 2 106 [2] 108*
RAVEN 4 95 [2] 86
ROADRUNNER 4 95 [2] 86
SOLARGOLD 4 112 [5] 98
STOCKPILE** 4 111 [8] 81
VERNAL 2 97 [273] 86 100 100 102 110*
WL 354 HQ 4 111 [9] 76
Glyphosate weed management
428RR** 4 107 [6] 113 106 110*
54R02 4 105 [4] 107
54QR04 4 103 [4] 100 103
55VR06 5 105 [3] 104 112* 100
6497R** 4 107 [2] 113
DKA40-51RR 4 107 [3] 106 112* 104
DKA43-22RR 4 107 [3] 105 107* 109*
DKA44-16RR 4 103 [5] 106* 103 106* 104
RR501 5 97 [3] 100 97 94
RR STRATICA** 4 110 [7] 127*
YIELDMASTER RR 4 102 [2] 108*
Check averaged (tons/acre) 5 19 5 65 7 87 10 1 4 88 5 59
Abbreviations: FD = fall dormancy; LAN = Lancaster; MAR = Marshfield
* Varieties not significantly different from highest value in column within specific weed management practices
a Fall dormancy scale: 1 = least fall growth; 11 = greatest fall growth
b Average yield as a percent of check varieties, including concluded studies not listed Number in brackets is number of site-years (e g , 3 years at 2 sites=6 site-years) Higher site-year values indicate greater confidence
c Years at top of column indicate seeding year
d Check varieties are Vernal, 5312, and Oneida VR
** Entered as an experimental
For seasonal distribution of yield results, visit our website at www.uwex.edu/ces/forage.
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2 0 1 5 T R I A L R E S U L T S
Table 3. Yield in seeding year as a percent of check averages and fall dormancy of alfalfa varieties
Variety
Seeded 2015/harvested
2015
Fall dormancya Marshfield
Conventional weed management
55V50 5 104
Mariner IV 4 101
Vernal 2 100
55Q27 5 98
Nuton 4 96
Glyphosate weed management
DKA43-22RR 4 99
DKA40-51RR 4 95
DKA44-16RR 4 95
55VR06 5 91
RR501 5 86
Check averageb (tons/acre) 5 84
* Varieties not significantly different from highest value in column within specific weed management practices
a Fall dormancy scale: 1=least fall growth; 11=greatest fall growth
b Check varieties are Vernal
For seasonal distribution of yield results, visit our website at www.uwex.edu/ces/forage.
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F O R A G E V A R I E T Y U P D A T E F O R W I S C O N S I N
Table 4. Disease and PLH resistance and marketers of alfalfa varieties
Variety
Disease/Pest resistancea
RRd Marketer(s)DRIb
Aphanomyces
PLHcrace 1 race 2
428RR 30 HR RR La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed Corp
5312 29 R Pioneer
54R02 30 HR RR Pioneer
54QR04 30 HR RR Pioneer
55H94 30 HR R Pioneer
55Q27 30 HR R Pioneer
55V50 29 HR HR Pioneer
55VR06 30 HR HR RR Pioneer
6472A 30 HR HR Nexgrow Brand
LUE JAY^ 29 HR R HR Blue River Hybrids
DG 4210 30 HR Crop Production Services
DKA40-51RR 30 HR HR RR Monsanto/DeKalb
DKA41-18RR 30 HR RR Monsanto/DeKalb
DKA43-22RR 30 HR RR Monsanto/DeKalb
DKA44-16RR 30 HR RR Monsanto/DeKalb
FORAGEGOLD 30 HR Renk Seed
FSG 403LR 29 HR R La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed Corp
FSG 424 30 HR HR La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed Corp
HYBRIFORCE-3400 30 HR R Dairyland Seed Co
HYBRIFORCE-3400QR 30 HR R Dairyland Seed Co
L-455HD^ 30 HR Legacy Seeds
LANCER 30 HR HR Albert Lea Seed House
LEGENDAIRY XHD 30 HR Croplan Genetics
MAGNITUDE 30 HR La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed Corp
MALLARD 5^ 29 HR R Blue River Hybrids
MARINER IV 30 HR R La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed Corp
Nuton 30 HR HR NuTech Seed
ONEIDA VR 21 S NY AES
PGI 212 30 HR Producer’s Choice
PGI 557 30 HR Producer’s Choice
RAVEN^ 26 HR R Blue River Hybrids
ROADRUNNER^ 29 HR Blue River Hybrids
RR STRATICA 30 HR R RR Croplan Genetics
RR501 25 HR RR Channel
SOLARGOLD 30 HR Renk Seed
STOCKPILE 30 HR R Brett-Young Seeds
VERNAL 11 S WI AES/USDA
WL 354 HQ 30 HR HR FS Growmark
YIELDMASTER RR 30 HR RR Monsanto/DeKalb^ Varieties not reviewed by the National Alfalfa Variety Review Board Resistance information not verified a Resistance ratings: HR=highly resistant (> 50% of plants have resistance); R=resistant (31–50%);
MR=moderately resistant (15–30%); LR=low resistance (6–14%); S=susceptible (< 6%) b DRI=disease resistance index (30=highest; 6=lowest) c PLH=Potato Leafhopper resistance d RR=RoundUp Ready variety
For more detailed disease resistance, visit our website at www.uwex.edu/ces/forage.
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2 0 1 5 T R I A L R E S U L T S
Birdsfoot trefoilBirdsfoot trefoil is a deep-rooted, winter-hardy legume that is useful in permanent pastures It is best used on soils that are marginal for alfalfa production and where drought is not too severe Seedling establishment is slower than alfalfa and red clover Birdsfoot trefoil is best grown in mixtures with Kentucky bluegrass or timothy For more details on growing this legume, see the forages website: www uwex edu/ces/forage
Red cloverRed clover is grown in pastures across the state and for hay and haylage in northern and eastern Wisconsin on soils that are not adequately drained or limed or where soils cannot be practically improved for alfalfa Red clover is well suited for short rotation and for plow-down in rotations with potatoes Although as difficult to dry as hay, red clover makes excellent low-moisture silage when properly managed and harvested between late-bud and early-bloom stage Because of its easy and rapid establishment, red clover is an excellent choice for interseeding into sod pastures to improve forage yield and quality For details on growing this legume, see Extension publication Red Clover—Establishment, Management, and Utilization (A3492)
Table 5. Birdsfoot trefoil yields, expressed as a percent of Norcen
Variety
——————% of Norcen check variety——————
Seed sourcebAshland 97/99a
Ashland 97/98
Marshfield 96/97–98
Arlington 95/96
Ashland 94/95–96
BONNIE 85 Deer Creek Seed
BRIGHT 104* 113* Pickseed Canada
BULL 104* 94 Pickseed Canada
DAWN 92 79 85 90 99* Deer Creek Seed
EMPIRE 83 New York-(Public)
GEORGIA I 69 Deer Creek Seed
LEO 91 96 99* 95 FarmPure Seeds
NORCEN 100* 100* 100* 100* 100* North Central States-(Public)
STEADFAST (ARS 2620) 80 57 75 USDA-ARS, Univ MO
TREVIG 109* 100* 92* USDA-WI-(Public-Exp)
UPSTART 96* 89 Pickseed Canada
VIKING 108* 73 78 100* 93 New York-(Public)
WITT 100* 90 93* 104* 94 USDA-WI-(Public-Exp)
NORCENc 2 71 2 76 8 79 2 22 5 65
* Varieties not significantly different from highest value in column
a Seeding year/harvest year(s)
b Source of seed for testing purposes Check with seed source supplier or local extension agent for marketer of seed
c Norcen birdsfoot trefoil cumulative yield in tons dry matter per acre
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F O R A G E V A R I E T Y U P D A T E F O R W I S C O N S I N
Table 6. Red clover yields, expressed as a percent of check variety. Yields taken in 2015 from stated planting dates.
VarietyMarshfield
2014aPrairie du Sac
2014Prairie du Sac
2013Prairie du Sac
2012Average
[site-years]b Marketer(s)
ABERCLARRET 74 85 [2] Brett-Young Seeds
CARDINAL II 110 94 100 [4] Allied Seed
CINNAMON PLUS 99 102 106 102 [17] Allied Seed
DURATION EXTRA 96 [4] Preferred Seed Company
EMARWAN 79 93 [4] Rose Agri-seed, Inc, dba Pure Seed
FREEDOM 98 91 [7] Barenbrug USA
FREEDOM! MR 100 93 111 88 103 [13] Barenbrug USA
FSG 402 110 99 109 102 [8] La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed; Farm Science Genetics
GO-MER 105 67 86 [4] Grassland Oregon
LS9703 93 [4] Lewis Seed
MARATHON 100 100 100 100 101 [152] Allied Seed
MILVUS 111 79 95 [5] Byron Seeds
SOUTHERN BELLE 97 [4] Allied Seed
STARFIRE II 112 94 116 110 104 [17] Ampac Seed
TEMPUS 78 88 [5] Pickseed Canada
Check yieldc 5 13 5 38 3 39 2 35
* Varieties not significantly different from highest value in column
a Seeding year
b Average yield as a percent of check varieties, including concluded studies not listed Number in brackets is number of site-years (e g , 3 years at 2 sites=6 site-years) Higher site-year values indicate greater confidence
c Marathon average yield in tons dry matter per acre
Note that one more harvest will be taken at one or both sites which will be added to data presented on the Team Forage website (http://fyi uwex edu/forage/) in November 2015
For seasonal distribution of yield results, visit our website at www.uwex.edu/ces/forage.
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Perennial cool-season grasses have long been an important part of the Wisconsin forage program Perennial
grasses have very diverse uses, ranging from hay, silage, and pasture to sod for roadsides and animal lots Smooth bromegrass, orchardgrass, timothy, tall fescue, and reed canarygrass fertilized with nitrogen will provide both early-season and September grazing for beef, sheep, goats, and horses While productive in the spring and fall, grasses usually experience a “summer slump” (period of reduced growth) when the weather turns hot and/or dry Including a legume in mixture with grass tends to improve forage quality and reduce the effects of summer slump Grasses are used in pure stands, in grass/grass mixtures, and legume/grass mixtures
Grass species differ in several important characteristics that influence suitability to a particular situation The most important characteristics are maturity (how quickly the grass produces heads in the spring), winter hardiness and survival, disease resistance, heat and drought tolerance, and grazing or traffic tolerance For example, tall fescue is well-suited to a high-traffic lot, while timothy will not survive under high traffic because its crowns are very sensitive to hoof damage and will not produce new stems Orchardgrass would be a poor choice for drainage ditches or waterways because it is a bunch-type grass, and, rather than forming a sod, it forms clumps that are interspersed with bare ground or weeds
Table 7 presents yield and palatability data for many varieties Palatability may be more beneficial for lactating dairy cows than for beef and sheep production because of dairy cows’ high level of feed intake For marketers’ addresses and telephone numbers, see the list at the end of this publication
Wisconsin has many bluegrass pastures and quackgrass hay fields or pastures However, producers rarely seed these species; both are considered unimproved pasture Bluegrass productivity is extremely low Quackgrass can produce good quality and tonnage of hay or pasture
For each cultivated grass species used in Wisconsin today, many varieties are available with wide-ranging characteristics The most important grasses in Wisconsin today are discussed in more detail below For color photos of grass seeds, seedlings, and mature plants, as well as additional management information, consult Identifying Pasture Grasses (A3637)
Meadow bromegrassGeneral characteristics and advantagesMeadow bromegrass is a cool-season perennial bunch grass It is widely used in Canada and in some western states to mix with legumes for hay crops and in pastures It starts spring growth earlier than most other grasses and is ready for grazing at an earlier date It regrows faster and has more basal leaves than smooth bromegrass The forage quality is similar to that of smooth bromegrass The vegetative growth is very palatable to all classes of livestock as both green forage and cured hay It yields relatively better than most other grass species in late summer if fertilized Meadow bromegrass is adapted to the same soils and climatic conditions and will grow well wherever smooth bromegrass does well Meadow bromegrass has good drought tolerance and excellent winter hardiness There have been no insect or disease problems observed in fields of meadow bromegrass
Special needs and disadvantagesMeadow bromegrass seedlings have better vigor than smooth bromegrass, so establishment is equal or slightly quicker However, horizontal spread of established plants is slower, so ground cover will be less rapid
Meadow fescueGeneral characteristics and advantagesMeadow fescue is a cool-season perennial bunch grass that has been widely used in Canada It originated in northern Europe, while tall fescue originated in southern Europe It may be more useful than tall fescue in northern managed grazing systems, which are typically based on forage mixtures in which relatively unpalatable species are chronically refused This species can tolerate frequent grazing or mowing better than most grass species It has “softer” leaves and greater palatability than tall fescue Meadow fescue is a diploid forage grass widely adapted to lowlands It grows under cool, moist conditions and tolerates wet and occasionally flooded soils Once established, it also performs under drier conditions for making hay or silage Meadow fescue is also a good growing companion for alfalfa While yield may be less than for tall fescue, animal intake and performance may be higher It yields relatively better than most other grass species in late summer if fertilized
Special needs and disadvantagesMeadow fescue is slow to establish and is best seeded in spring It is very susceptible to leaf rust
Grasses
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F O R A G E V A R I E T Y U P D A T E F O R W I S C O N S I N
OrchardgrassGeneral characteristics and advantagesOrchardgrass is a moderately hardy bunch-type grass It regrows quickly and is commonly grown in mixtures with alfalfa It performs well in mixtures with other grasses, such as smooth bromegrass and reed canary grass, when fertilized with nitrogen for early- and late-season grazing
Special needs and disadvantagesFor alfalfa orchardgrass mixtures, carefully select both varieties to ensure a stable hay or silage mixture The alfalfa variety should be a quick-recovery type to help it compete with the fast-growing orchardgrass Select medium- to late-maturing varieties of orchardgrass for mixture with alfalfa If they are not available, reduce the orchardgrass seeding rate to half of the recommended amount Common orchardgrass seed (that which has no variety name) should not be mixed with alfalfa It matures too early, meaning it will have very mature seed heads when the alfalfa needs to be cut, and it is more competitive than later-maturing varieties Mature seed heads reduce the nutritive value of the hay or silage, and the competitiveness reduces alfalfa stands Select varieties for rust resistance for good yield and animal consumption (See www uwex edu/ces/forage/pubs/vargrassinfo htm for rust-resistant varieties )
Reed canarygrassGeneral characteristics and advantagesReed canarygrass is a very hardy sod-forming grass especially well suited for permanent hay or pasture on peat or muck soils It is also very useful for disposing of liquid manure and canning-crop refuse, producing high yields when nitrogen is present in these applications It is very drought-tolerant and is a good grass for dry, upland soils once established It is also an excellent choice as a cover crop for wild game or for waterways Reed canarygrass is invasive to wetlands and should be managed to minimize distribution of seeds and vegetative material to those areas
Special needs and disadvantagesReed canarygrass establishes almost as slowly as smooth bromegrass Little forage will be produced in the first year, with either a late-summer or a spring seeding Reed canarygrass requires careful management for maximum productivity under grazing or hay production For grazing, it requires rotational grazing with rest periods to allow regrowth and will not tolerate close grazing For hay production, it should be cut at least three times per year To maximize the production of high-quality forage, the first cut should be as soon as possible after heads appear in whorl, but before emergence Plant low-alkaloid types for grazing
Leaves and stems of all reed canarygrass varieties have alkaloids that affect animal performance and health when grazing Select varieties that do not have tryptamine-type alkaloids (gramine) to avoid certain animal disorders and to maximize animal weight gains Alkaloids are destroyed during curing, so absence of alkaloids is not an important variety selection criterion when using the crop for hay or silage
RyegrassGeneral characteristics and advantagesRyegrass can be used for overseeding pasture or, in northern Wisconsin, for hay or silage production in mixture with alfalfa or red clover in short-term rotations (2–3 years) It is high in forage quality Tetraploid types are more palatable and tend to be more winter hardy
Special needs and disadvantagesRyegrass should not be seeded alone in Wisconsin because of its susceptibility to winter-kill Few ryegrass varieties are available on the market If a choice is available, hybrid or intermediate ryegrasses or festuloliums have the best combination of high summer yields, good persistence in mixture with alfalfa, ability to survive usually for 2–3 years, and excellent forage nutritive value Select varieties for rust resistance to get good yield and animal consumption
Figure 4. Winter-hardy vs. winter-killed orchardgrass varieties
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2 0 1 5 T R I A L R E S U L T S
Types• Perennial ryegrasses (diploid and
tetraploid) are the hardiest of the ryegrasses, but are also the lowest yielding Tetraploids usually have greater yields than diploids Few diploid varieties perform well in Wisconsin They usually go dormant between late June and mid-August, when conditions are hot and dry They have excellent nutritive value and yield in spring and fall Perennial ryegrass can be used with legumes to create high-yielding hay or silage mixtures
• Italian ryegrasses (frequently called annual ryegrasses) are not true annuals Italian ryegrasses are perennial under the right circumstances, which in Wisconsin requires either mild winter conditions or continuous snow cover They have excellent spring, summer, or fall productivity relative to other ryegrasses They also have excellent seedling vigor Many Italian ryegrasses do not produce stems and heads in the seeding year We recommend planting only late-maturing types because these have better yield distribution throughout the growing season Frost seeding Italian ryegrass is an excellent way to improve the yield and quality of pastures The procedure is to broadcast seed during March onto a pasture that has been closely grazed the previous fall
• Hybrid (intermediate) ryegrasses are hybrids between perennial and Italian types They have intermediate performance for nearly all of the above-mentioned characteristics
• Festuloliums are derived from hybrids between Italian ryegrass and meadow fescue They have the winter hardiness and disease resistance of meadow fescue, combined with the high nutritive value and high, season-long productivity of Italian ryegrass
Smooth bromegrassGeneral characteristics and advantagesSmooth bromegrass is extremely hardy, long-lived, and well-adapted to the entire state It can be grazed or cut for hay or silage It forms a solid sod that makes it suitable for roadsides or waterways It has good drought and heat tolerance and is generally capable of higher yields under extreme heat and drought than most other grasses Thus it may be the most versatile choice for southern and western Wisconsin
Special needs and disadvantagesSmooth bromegrass is very slow to establish Spring seedings are recommended, and it is best to use a variety that has seedling resistance to Pythium damping off disease Make late-summer seedings by mid-August These seedings rarely provide a productive crop until the second year Brown leafspot is the most serious disease, but resistant varieties are available Smooth bromegrass has low tolerance for three- and four-cut systems in an alfalfa/bromegrass mixture, but some varieties have been bred for better persistence under these conditions
Tall fescueGeneral characteristics and advantagesTall fescue is a hardy sod-forming grass that is an excellent choice for use in terraces, waterways, roadsides, feed lots, and other areas where you need a coarse, vigorous sod or ground cover It is very tolerant of intensive grazing and heavy animal traffic Tall fescue can provide 2–3 hay cuttings in a typical year It requires minimal maintenance, and there are turf-type varieties that can be used to make a lawn stay green in mid-summer, when bluegrass and ryegrass are brown
Special needs and disadvantagesTall fescue is not frequently used for forage production in Wisconsin This may be partly because of its undeserved reputation as having poor winter hardiness and partly because of its tendency to cause disorders in grazing animals The animal disorders have been positively linked to an endophyte, a fungus living in stems of tall fescue Once the fungus infects a plant, it stays as a permanent resident The fungus is believed to provide the host plant with a mechanism for resisting diseases, insects, and winter and summer stresses Thus, tall fescue seed for use in lawns, roadways and waterways should have the endophyte Tall fescue seed for use in establishing pastures should not have the endophyte Tall fescue varieties with novel endophyte are generally not sufficiently winter-hardy for Wisconsin We recommend endophyte-free varieties Select varieties for rust resistance to get good yield and animal consumption (See www uwex edu/ces/forage/pubs/ vargrassinfo htm for rust-resistant varieties )
12
F O R A G E V A R I E T Y U P D A T E F O R W I S C O N S I N
TimothyGeneral characteristics and advantagesTimothy is a very hardy bunch-type grass used primarily in mixture with red clover in central and northern Wisconsin It is best adapted to cooler climates and performs better in the central and northern parts of the state than in the south It can also be used in mixture with alfalfa and is recommended for seeding with birdsfoot trefoil Most varieties appear to have good disease resistance
Special needs and disadvantagesTimothy can be grazed, but it requires long rest periods and a rotational grazing system for maximum productivity and persistence It does not form sod and has low tolerance for traffic, so it is not well-suited for feed lots, roadways, or waterways For mixtures with red clover, select late-maturing varieties to best match the growth pattern and cutting schedule of red clover For alfalfa, select early-maturing varieties, because they are more tolerant of the frequent cutting that is used for alfalfa-grass hay or silage production Timothy is not well suited to drought or heat-prone areas
Selecting grass varietiesThe grass species differences previously described are important and can help narrow your choices, but selecting the best-fitting grass variety within a species may have a more significant impact on whether a particular grass suits your needs
Use the following steps to help select the best grass for your needs
1. Select high-yielding varieties to get up to four tons per acre additional yield per year. This data is available in table 7 and, for more detail, go to the forages website: www uwex edu/ces/forage For both hay and pasture, it’s generally best to avoid the traditional choices of smooth bromegrass (with high yield, but 60–70% of yield in first cutting and little growth the rest of season) and timothy (short-lived at 2–4 years and lowest-yielding grass) Instead, select newer varieties of tall fescue and orchardgrass with higher yield potential and better yield distribution during the growing season
2. Select tested varieties to ensure adequate winter hardiness. The light-colored rectangles in trials shown in figure 4 are orchardgrass varieties that died due to insufficient winter hardiness Selecting varieties tested for winter hardiness is especially important since most grass varieties are developed in other parts of the world with less need for winter hardiness than in Wisconsin
3. Select medium- to late-maturing varieties. Cheap seed generally consists of early-maturing varieties that head before alfalfa is ready to cut or clover is ready to graze Some varieties (late types) head out up to two weeks later than others (early types); medium to late types are the best choices
4. Select a variety with more consistent yield throughout the growing season. Table 7 lists the ß for each variety The ß is a measure of the yield distribution throughout the season A value near 0 means that the yield was evenly distributed throughout the season, while a ß value less than -3 means that most of the yield was in first growth with little growth the rest of the season Figure 5 shows the yield by month of two grass varieties According to the seasonal yield distributions shown, variety A would have a very negative (low) ß value, while variety B would have a higher ß value and be a better choice Select varieties with a ß of greater than -2 for consistent yield throughout the season (assuming the yield is not limited by drought or unusually high temperatures) The ß value for grass varieties tested but not listed in this publication can be found on the forages website: www uwex edu/ces/forage
5. Select orchardgrass, tall fescue, and meadow fescue varieties with rust resistance. The orange particles that coat shoes and pants when walking through fields in July and August are rust spores Rust will reduce animal intake and possibly animal health, as well as forage yield
45
40
35
30
25
20
15
10
5
0May June July August
Variety A
Variety B
Figure 5. Seasonal distribution of orchardgrass varieties
13
2 0 1 5 T R I A L R E S U L T S
Table 7. Yield of festulolium, bromegrass, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, timothy, westerwoldicums, and annual ryegrass varieties expressed as a percent of the check variety
Varieties
Arlington ave. yield (site-years)b
Mat.cRustd
stem/crown ßβe Marketer(s)2012a 2013a 2014a 2015a
FESTULOLIUM
FEDORO 139*
HIPAST 103 106 L 2 5 DLF-International Seeds
MAHULENA 99 105 E 3 7 DLF-International Seeds
REBAB 98 98 L 1 9 DLF-International Seeds
SPRING GREEN (check variety) †† 100 91 E yes/yes -5 0 Pure Seed; Producer’s Choice
check yield (tons/acre) † all entries winter-killed †† winter-killed
† †† 2 84 6 84
HYBRID BROMEGRASS
AC SUCCESS 100 88 L -2 4 Allied Seed
trial average (tons/acre) check variety did not germinate
5 29 7 53
ORCHARDGRASS
ECHELON 113* 107 L yes/yes 2 9 DLF-International Seeds
INAVALE 106 101 M 4 3 DLF-International Seeds
POTOMAC (check variety) 100 100 E yes -3 2 Ampac Seed; Barenbrug Midwest; Grassland West; Jacklin Seed; Pennington Seed; Smith Seed Services; Producer’s Choice; Turf Merchants; Wilco Farmers; Forage First Winfield Solutions
ELSIE 94 ML Rose Agri-Seed
check yield (tons/acre) 4 75 8 02
ORCHARDGRASS (LATE T YPES)
CROWN ROYALE L -7 1 Grassland Oregon
HARVESTAR L yes -1 1 Columbia Seeds
PROFIT L yes 0 7 Ampac Seed
PENNLATE (check variety) L -2 4 Public
check yield (tons/acre) 2 74 8 00
* Varieties not significantly different from highest value in column within each species
a Years at top of column indicate seeding year
b Average yield including concluded studies not listed Number in brackets is number of site-years (e g , 3 years at 2 sites = 6 site-years) Higher site-year values indicate greater confidence
c Maturity: E = early, ME = medium early, M = medium, ML = medium late, L = late; rating is relative within a species
d Resistant to rust For more information on rust-resistant varieties, go to www uwex edu/ces/forage/pubs/vargrassinfo htm
e ß=Beta is a measure of the yield distribution throughout the season A zero value indicates even distribution of yield throughout season
A more negative value indicates that more of the yield occurred in the earlier part of the season A more positive value indicates that more of the yield occurred in the later part of the season
For seasonal distribution of yield results, visit our website at www.uwex.edu/ces/forage.
14
F O R A G E V A R I E T Y U P D A T E F O R W I S C O N S I N
Table 7. Yield of festulolium, bromegrass, orchardgrass, perennial ryegrass, tall fescue, timothy, westerwoldicums, and annual ryegrass varieties expressed as a percent of the check variety
Varieties
Arlington ave. yield (site-years)b
Mat.cRustd
stem/crown ßβe Marketer(s)2012a 2013a 2014a 2015a
PERENNIAL RYEGRASS
ASHTON CHIEFTAIN 141 DSV-Eurograss
HUNTER 167* DSV-Eurograss
POMPOSO 180* DSV-Eurograss
PST-2COW 155* DSV-Eurograss
TORONTO 141
check yield (tons/acre) † all entries winter-killed
† † 2 84 †
TALL FESCUE
CAJUN II 96* Pure Seed
COWGIRL 94* E yes/yes La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed
FLOURISH 104 ML yes/yes 0 6 DLF-International Seeds
KORA 110* M -1 5 DSV-Eurograss
LIPALMA 93* Pennington Seed
TEXOMA MAX Q II 95 M yes/yes 0 9 Mountain View Seeds
TETON II 91* DLF-International Seeds
TOWER 123* L -1 7Barenbrug USA; FS Growmark; Forage First Winfield Solutions
TEXOMAX MAX QII 100 0 25 Pennington
KY 31 (check variety) 100 100 100 100 E -2 1Barenbrug USA; FS Growmark; Forage First Winfield Solutions
check yield (tons/acre) 3 63 5 43 7 27 7 99
TIMOTHY
ZENYATTA 117* 120 E -1 0 DLF-International Seeds
CLIMAX (check variety) 100 100 E -6 3 Grassland West; Ampac Seed
check yield (tons/acre) 4 64 6 14
* Varieties not significantly different from highest value in column within each species
a Years at top of column indicate seeding year
b Average yield including concluded studies not listed Number in brackets is number of site-years (e g , 3 years at 2 sites = 6 site-years) Higher site-year values indicate greater confidence
c Maturity: E = early, ME = medium early, M = medium, ML = medium late, L = late; rating is relative within a species
d Resistant to rust For more information on rust-resistant varieties, go to www uwex edu/ces/forage/pubs/vargrassinfo htm
e ß=Beta is a measure of the yield distribution throughout the season A zero value indicates even distribution of yield throughout season
A more negative value indicates that more of the yield occurred in the earlier part of the season A more positive value indicates that more of the yield occurred in the later part of the season
For seasonal distribution of yield results, visit our website at www.uwex.edu/ces/forage.
15
2 0 1 5 T R I A L R E S U L T S
Pasture seeding mixturesFor seeding into existing sodUnder most circumstances, only legumes should be seeded into an existing sod because the grass sod is normally too competitive against grass seedlings to allow their establishment These rates may be used for either frost seeding or no-till seeding Be sure to remove the cover crop as seedlings emerge again periodically during the season
For seeding into tilled or sod-killed fieldsSeeding mixtures should have three components: a long-lived grass, a legume, and a rapid-establishing cover crop The cover crop may be a small-seeded grain, although annual or perennial ryegrass is recommended
Table 8. Seeding rates into existing sod
LegumeRate
(lb./acre) Comments
Alfalfa 3–4 Best for droughty soils
Birdsfoot trefoil
2–3 Best for wet soils
Red clover 3–4 Easiest to establish
Table 9. Seeding rates for pasture seeding mixtures (lb /acre) (Select a column based on water drainage )
Mixture
Well-drained soils Less well-drained soils Poorly drained
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Long-lived grass
Bromegrass 3–6 3–6 3–6 3–6
Orchardgrass 2–4 2–4 2–4
Reed canarygrass 6
Timothy 2–4 3–4 2–4 2–4
Legume
Alfalfa 4–6 4–6
Alsike clover 3
Birdsfoot trefoil 6
Ladino clover 1
Red clover 4–6 3–6 6 6 6
Cover crop
Ryegrass 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2
For example, if choosing mixture 1, seed 2–4 lb orchardgrass, 4–6 lb alfalfa, and 2 lb ryegrass per acre
16
F O R A G E V A R I E T Y U P D A T E F O R W I S C O N S I N
Table 10. Planting rate and date for forages in Wisconsin
Crop
Bushel weight (lb.)a
Seeds/pound (number)
Seeding rate (lb./acre) Seeding dateb
Alfalfa alone with grass
60 199,000 12–15 8
Early spring or late summer
Barley 48 14,300 60–85 Early spring
Big bluestem — 150,000 10 Late May through June
Birdsfoot trefoil alone with grass
60 372,000 8 6
Early spring or late summer
Bluegrass 14 2,200,000 15 Early spring or late summer
Bromegrass alone in mixtures
14 136,000 16 3–6
Early spring or late summer
Canarygrass, annual 50 58,000 30 Early spring
Clover, alsike in mixtures kura red alone red with grass white in mixtures
60 60 60 60 60
653,000 230,000 252,000 252,000 784,000
3 6
10 6–8 1–2
Early spring to August 10 Early spring Early spring to August 10 Early spring to August 10 Early spring to August 10
Crown vetch — 140,000 5–10 Late April through June
Fescue, meadow, alone in mixtures
24 230,000 15 6
Early spring or late summer
Fescue, tall, alone in mixtures
24 230,000 15 6
Early spring or late summer
Fieldpea alone with 11⁄2–2 bushels of oats
60 3,000 180 50
Early spring
Indiangrass — 170,000 10 Late April through June
Kale — 140,000 4 Early spring to July 1
Millet, barnyard foxtail pearl proso
35 48 — 56
155,000 218,000 85,000 65,000
20 15 20 20
June 1 to July 15 June 1 to July 15 June 1 to July 15 June 1 to July 15
Oats alone seeded with alfalfa
32 16,200 80 32–48
Early spring
Orchardgrass alone in mixtures
14 653,000 10 2–4
Early spring or late summer
Rape forage 50 145,000 4 Early spring to July 1
Reed canarygrass alone in mixtures
46 526,000 65
Early spring or late summer
Ryegrass, Italian perennial in mixtures
24 24
227,000230,000
20–25 20–25
2
Early spring Early spring Early spring
Sorghum 18- to 40-inch rows 6- to 14-inch rows
56 15,000 10–12 15
May 20 to June 5 for grain
Soybeans for forage 60 2,500 90 Late spring to July 1
Sudangrass 18- to 40-inch rows 6- to 14-inch rows
40 44,000 20 20–30
May 20 to June 10
Sweet clover 60 240,000 12 Early spring
Switchgrass 28 370,000 6 Late May through June
Timothy alone in mixtures
45 1,234,000 8 2–4
Early spring or late summer
Turnip — 190,000 1 5 April to August 1
Vetch, hairy 60 21,000 20 Early spring
Winter rye or wheat 56 15,000 60 Septembera U S legal if established If not established, weight given is that most widely accepted in the United States
b For seeding date ranges, early dates are for southern Wisconsin and late dates are for northern Wisconsin
Rates are based on normal seedbeds and on normal-size, good-quality seed
Actual establishment will depend on soil moisture, temperature and other environmental conditions during establishment
Rates used may vary greatly depending on desired stand, seed weight, and seed germination
Rates are for pure live seed (PLS); if PLS is less than 90%, adjust seeding rate accordingly
Pure live seed = % germination x % purity
1717
Seed marketersSeed marketers Phone Web address
Albert Lea Seed House
800-352-5247 www alseed com
Allied Seed 800-880-8127 www alliedseed com
America’s Alfalfa 800-873-2532 www americasalfalfa com
Ampac Seed 800-547-3230 www ampacseed com
Barenbrug Midwest 319-472-5569 www barusa com
Barenbrug USA 888-470-5569 www barusa com
Beck’s Hybrids 800-937-2325 www beckshybrids com
Bio-Plant Research 800-593-7708
Blue River Hybrids 800-370-7979 www blueriverorgseed com
Brett-Young Seeds 800-665-5015 www brettyoung ca
Byron Seed Supply 888-836-3697 www bestforage com
Channel www channel com
Columbia Seeds 888-681-7333 www columbiaseeds com
Crop Production Services
970-356-4400 www cpsagu com
Croplan Genetics 651-765-5712 www winfield com/Farmer/Croplan/
Dairyland Seed 800-236-0163 www dairylandseed com
Deer Creek Seed 877-247-3736 www deercreekseed com
DeLong Company 800-356-0784 www delongcompany com
DLF-International Seeds
800-445-2251 www intlseed com
Doeblers Hybrids 800-853-2676 www doeblers com
DSV-Eurograss +49 2941 296-307
www eurograss com
Elk Mound Seed 800-401-7333 www elkmoundseed com
Evergreen Seed 800-235-5575 www evergreenseed com
Farm Science Genetics
888-252-7573 www farmsciencegenetics com
FarmPure Seeds 306-791-0500 www lftseed com
Forage First Winfield Solutions
800-356-7333 www foragefirst com
FS Growmark 309-557-6000 www growmark com
Grassland Oregon 503-566-9900 www grasslandoregon com
Grassland West 866-214-2947 www grasslandwest com
Jacklin Seed 800-688-7333 www simplot com/turf_horticulture/jacklin_seed
Seed marketers Phone Web address
La Crosse Forage & Turf Seed
800-328-1909 www lftseed com
Legacy Seeds 866-791-6390 www legacyseeds com
Lewis Seed 541-491-3700 www lewisseed com
Monsanto/DeKalb 800-768-6387 www asgrowanddekalb com
Mycogen Seed 800-692-6436 www mycogen com
Naylor Seeds 800-747-7333 www naylorseed com
Nexgrow Brand 855-463-9476 www plantnexgrow com
NuTech Seed 800-942-6748 www yieldleader com
Pennington Seed 800-285-7333 www penningtonseed com
Pickseed Canada 800-661-4769 www pickseed com
Pioneer Hi-Bred Intl
800-247-6803 www pioneer com
Preferred Seed Company
877-417-7333 www preferredseed com
Producer’s Choice 866-744-5710 www producerschoiceseed com
ProSeeds Marketing
541-928-9999 www proseeds net
Pure Seed 503-651-2130 www pureseed com
Renk Seed 800-289-7365 www renkseed com
Seed Research of Oregon
800-253-5766 www sroseed com
Smith Seed Services
800-826-6324 www smithseed com
Specialty Seeds 800-685-4521 www specialtyturfag com
Syngenta Seeds 800-248-4767 www syngenta-us com
TA Seed 866-813-7333 www taseeds com
Turf Merchants 541-926-8649 www turfmerchants com
Turner Seed 615-641-7333 www turnerseedinc com
Welter Seed 800-728-8450 www welterseed com
Wilco Farmers 800-382-5339 www wilco coop
W-L Research 800-406-7662 www wlresearch com
Copyright © 2015 by the Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System doing business as the division of Cooperative Extension of the University of Wisconsin-Extension All rights reserved
Authors: Dan Undersander is UW-Extension’s forage agronomist The following authors are UW-Extension and UW-Madison research faculty members: Mike Bertram, Jason Cavadini, Arin Crooks and Bill Meyer Heathcliff Riday is an honorary associate/fellow in the College of Agricultural and Life Sciences at UW-Madison Anna Teeter is a student at UW-Madison Produced by Cooperative Extension Publishing Cooperative Extension publications are subject to peer review
University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension, in cooperation with the U S Department of Agriculture and Wisconsin counties, publishes this information to further the purpose of the May 8 and June 30, 1914, Acts of Congress An EEO/AA employer, the University of Wisconsin-Extension, Cooperative Extension provides equalopportunities in employment and programming, including Title IX and ADA requirements If you have a disability and require this information in an alternative format, or if you would like to submit a copyright request, please contact Cooperative Extension Publishing at 432 N Lake St , Rm 227, Madison, WI 53706; pubs@uwex edu; or (608) 263-2770 (711 for Relay)
This publication is available from your county UW-Extension office (www uwex edu/ces/cty) or from Cooperative Extension Publishing To order, call toll-free 1-877-947-7827 or visit our website at learningstore uwex edu
Forage Variety Update for Wisconsin—2015 Trial Results (A1525) R-11-2015